Hand-bag



Patented lune'20, I899. J. D. W000.

H A N D B A G (Application filed Mar. 9, 1899.)

(No Model.)

JOHN ILWOOD W$MZAMM H \5 ATTORN EY6.

THE ucmms PETERS co. PuoTo-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. WVOOD, OF WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.

HAN D BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,374, dated June 20, 1899.

Application filed March 9, 1899. Serial No. 708,391. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. I/VOOD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Westport, in the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented Improvements in Hand-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of hand-bags which are commonly known under the name of dress-suit cases; and the object of my invention is to so construct such a bag that it will be strong and yet at the sametime light. In the construction of these suit-cases as usually made it has been found necessary to place heavy sheets of pasteboard inside the leather of the body of the case in order to give the necessary stiff-. ness and strength. Without this heavy stiffening the leather case will soon be pulled out of shape by the weight put on the handle in carrying. To meet this difficulty and dispense with the use of the heavy lining and at the same time afford a support for the spring-lock against the pressure needed to push down the hasp, I provide the metal frame around the rim of the case with a lateral bracket, to which the handle, with or without the lock, may be secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the closed casewhen set up on an edge. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective diagram of a form of metal frame which may be used, the case, with the lid open, being shown in dotted lines; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

The case is madein the usual form, with a body A of leather and a hinged lid B provided with straps or other fastening devices C and with a handle D and lock E.

At the rim of the body A, on the open side adjacent to the lid, is the rectangular metal frame F, around which the edges of theleather are folded. At the point where the handle D is to be fastened I form on or secure to this metal frame F a lateral bracket G, to which the said handle may be secured, as by rivets (1, Figs. 1 and 2.- This bracket G may be of any suitable construction-as, for instance, the open frame shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1to be riveted to the frame F or welded thereto, as indicated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of bracket G, with the extended legs 9 g passing around and supporting the body of the case. The lock E is also preferably supported on this bracket, as at e, Fig. 1, against the pressure needed to push down the hasp e.

By the construction described a case may be made of one thickness of leather without any pasteboard or other stifiening material, and since the latter is often one-half of the weight of the ordinary case my construction produces a much'lighter and more desirable article. Furthermore, by the use of the metal frame with laterally-extending bracket the body of the case may be made deep and the lid shallow, as desirable in suit-case construction, while the handle may be attached at or near the central line of the whole case, the lateral bracket thus performing the double function of forming a support for the handle as well as the look, if desired, and giving rigidity to the suit-case structure at the top.

I am aware that sacks and "mail-pouches have been provided with folding metal frames of four parts hinged together at the mouth of the sack, with handles and locks to fasten the parts when folded; but my invention has reference t0 dress-suit cases having non-collapsible metal frames and is designed to prevent such cases being pulled out of shape, while reducing their weight.

I claim as my invention- 1. Ahand-bag of the suit-case construction, having a metal frame around the rim of the body, a lateral bracket on said frame and a handle attached to the'bracket, substantially as described.

2. A hand-bag of the suit-case construction, having a metal frame around the rim of the body, a lateral bracket on said frame, a han dle attached to the bracket and a lock sup ported on the same, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. W001).

\ Witnesses:

SAML. A. PURDY, WILLIAM H. PETRIE. 

